Bicycle



(No Model.)

J. H. PATTON.

BIGYGLE.

No. 318,789. Patented May 26, 1885.

Nirnn Starts PATENT @rrroia J OHN HERVEY PATTON, OF HARRISBURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,789, dated May 26,1885.

Application filed April 6, 1885. (N model.)

, .To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. Hnnvnv PAT-TON, of Harrisburg, in the county ofDauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bicycles and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bicycles; andit consists in,first, a clamp which is composed of a saddlepiece which has its ends tocatch upon the top of the prongs of the seat-spring, a flat plate whichis placed upon the top of the flat spring, and suitable clampingeyebolts or hooks, by means of which the two parts of the clanip,thefiat spring,and the seat-spring are secured together; second, thecombination of the clamp, which is composed of two parts,with aseat-spring, and the clamping-hooks, which secure the spring to theclamp, whereby the spring can be adjusted back and forth, so as toobtain more or less elasticity, and the seat-spring can be raised orlowered, as may be desired; third, a seatspring which has a straight orhorizontal portion where it is fastened to the clamp, a coil, a straightportion which is inclined forward and upwardly from the coil, and whichhas its upper end or portion turned backward and downward to receive thesaddle, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a clamp by means of which theseat-spring can be both readily and securelyheld in position, and thesaddle raised and lowered at will, and to produce a seatspring which ischeap and simple in construction, and which possesses great strength andelasticity.

Figure l is a side elevation showing the clamp and the spring. Fig. 2 isan inverted View of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4. is an endview.

A represents the flat springsuch as is used in the Star bicycleand B Othe two parts of the clamp. The lower saddle-piece of the clamp consistsof a bar of sufficient length,having the flange D projecting upward ateach of its ends, and having the pronged projections F extendingdownward at each end, for the purpose of catching over the tops of therear ends of the seat-spring G. The upper portion, B, of the clampconsists of a flat piece, which has a recess formed in its under side toreceive the fiat spring A, and thus be held in a straight line with thespring under all cir cumstances. The projection I is formed upon eachcorner of this upper portion, 13, and in between these projections ismade a suitable recess, which corresponds in shape to the proj ectionswhich extend from the top of the lower portion, G. The projections ofthe lower portion, 0, catch in these recesses, and, together with therecess which is formed in the top part of the portion 0, so as toreceive the flat spring A,serve to prevent the two parts of the clampfrom ever getting out of line with each other.

Passing down through the projections (in the upper portion, B, of theclamp are hooked claniping-bolts I,which catch under the rear ends ofthe spring, and which hooked bolts serve to bind the two parts of theclamp, the flat spring, and the seat-sp ring rigidly together.

The seat-spring, whether made single or double, consists of the straightpart J, by means of which it is secured to the clamp, the coil K, theforward and upwardly inclined part L, and the rearwardly and downwardlyinclined part N, to which the saddle is fastened in any suitable manner.The straight rear ends of the spring can be made of any desired length,and by loosening the bolts the spring can be adjusted back and forth,soas to increase or decrease the leverage and amount of elasticity whichis given to the seat. By loosening the front clamping-bolts andtightening up upon the rear ones the seat can be lowered to any desireddegree, and by loosening the rear bolts and tightening the front onesthe seat can be raised to any desired extent.

It is apparent by taking the point of attachment in the seat-spring fromthe top of the coil the whole spring can be lowered the width of thecoil, and by the use of the clamp here shown and described thenormalposition of the spring can be lowered below the flat spring A, thuslowering the whole seat, and bringing the rider nearer the wheel, andthereby giving him a longer reach with his legs to work thetreadle-levers. By bringing the point of attachment from the top of thecoil, and by the peculiar shape of the spring, all

ICO

jar incident to riding over uneven surfaces will be absorbed by it. Bymeans of the abrupt bend of the seat-spring in front the spring is givena sufficient stiffness so that the seat will be held in its normalposition under the rider and obviate the swagging of the seat from sideto side with every motion the rider may make. This construction of thespring, while it prevents swagging from side to side, permits enoughmotion to make the seat comfortable and easy.

As here shown, the clamp is made to attach to the flat spring of theStar bicycle only. Where it is to be attached to an ordinary bicyclewith a round or elliptical backbone, the clamp is made round orelliptical, instead of flat, at the place where it clamps to thebicycle. This style of clamp, either flat or. round, will hold theseat-spring or saddle so firmly that it cannot be forced out of place,and no amount of shaking will change its position. The four screw-hooks,gripping the seat-spring firmly, press the same tightly against thebridge or bearing-piece, and in whatever position the spring or saddleshall be adjusted-that is, high or low. Through raising or lowering thehooks, as before de scribed, the hooks will hold the same firmly inposition, and will not allow the seat-spring or saddle to sag or in anyway get out of place. The seat-spring is here shown as being madedouble; but it is evident that it may be made single, if so desired. bemade withtwo or four screw-hooks, in connection with two or one bearingor bridgepiece, 0, .as maybe desired. The clamp here shown can bereversed in position, the bearing-pieces being placed where the hooksare, and the hooks between them, where the bearing-piece is, or thewhole clamp can be turned The clamp can upside down. Eyebolts can alsobe used in place of the hook-bolts here shown.

I am aware that a seat of a flattened Z shape is old, and thisIdisclaim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A spring for bicycles,having the straight rear ends, the coil, the upwardly-inclined portionand abrupt bend in front, and the rearwardly-inclined portion to whichthe saddle is clamped, substantially as shown.

2. A seat-spring for bicycles, having the straight rear ends, a coilwhich extends down below these straight portions, the upwardly andforwardly inclined portion, the abrupt bend in front and at the highestpoint, and

the rearwardly and downwardly inclined front or portion to which thissaddle is fastened, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the upper portion,B, of the clamp, with the lowerportion, 0, provided with bearings for the spring, the adjustingclampingbolts, and the seat-spring, whereby the ends of the spring canbe adjusted up and down, substantially as set forth.

4. A clamp composed of the upper portion, B, having a projection at eachcorner, in combination with the lower portion, 0, having the upwardprojections which catch in the recesses in the ends of the upperportion, and

the downward projections which catch upon the top of the spring, and theclamping hooks or bolts, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HERVEY PATTON.

\Vitnesses:

\VILLIAM T. HILDRUP, J r., M. S. SHOTWELL.

